Beyond The Line

Dim moonlight shone from the gap on the roof, flashing it's light upon a pair of golden eyes. They're still and calm, seemingly detached from the matters of the world. Deep within those eyes, if one carefully looked, an ancient grief dwells true, slumbering as though it was dreaming of the better days. He places his bottle of beer on the windowsill, while sighing wind could be felt from behind him flowing through the gaps on the broken wall, giving the sailors chance to go to the deep dark sea. The harbor comes alive.

Distant chattering voices could be heard, deep bold voices of the sailors going to sea, braving the ocean for their families. He simply stood there by the windowsill, observing the sailors passing by while occasionally taking a sip of beer.

"Drinking again this early?" one of the sailors asked him.

"Yeah, you want some?" he replied. The sailor gave him one big hearty laugh and said "Nah, I'm going to sea. But I will drink some when I get back though! I hope you leave some for me."

"I will, be safe out there" He replied as the sailor went away.

"Once known as the ruler of the seven seas, now wasting his life away downing drinks like there's no tomorrow, what a life you've lead Leon Hart" He sighed. "My comrades dies, one after another. My vessel is in the bottom of the ocean. And here I am, still living this curse of never-ending life." He groped into his pockets grabbing some cigarette and a lighter, lighted it up and inhaled the burning solution within. Smoke puffed out of his mouth, within it was his memories, savoring them one by one he clearly lost the track of time. Piercing light interrupted his remembrance, the sun has risen.

The harbor is bustling with activities, fresh fishes caught in the early morning were sold out and the sailors went to bars they usually frequent, the sailor Leon was talking to came by to his windowsill looking for him. Inside the dilapidated house he's fast asleep, uncaring about the outside world.

"There he goes again, sleeping his life away. Hey Leon! Wake up!" the sailor shouted.

"The beer is on the windowsill John, take it and go away." a lazy voice came from the man sleeping inside.

"You're wasting your life away, only drinking and sleeping at home everyday. You should become a sailor Leon, your sailing and navigation skills are top notch, and you are proficient when you handle a vessel!"

"...Just go." Leon sighed.

"Fine." John left some bread on the windowsill and took away the unopened bottle Leon had put there. It was what they'd done for all these years, and this "ritual" would've continued if today never happened. Because for some reason, Leon had the urge to walk outside today.

"Wait. I think I'll go with you."

"Really? Are you sick?"

"No, just got an urge to walk today." Leon jumped out of the window, walking in the direction of one of the bars.

"That's good I guess." John smiled, looking at his finally "changed" friend's back.

They both walked past bards and buskers, through crowds of people who were here to buy seafood when Leon felt someone is calling him.

"Do you hear that John?" He asked. "Hear what? I hear nothing."

Leon regarded that call as an imagination, but it beckons again, and again, and again. Until he decided to find out where the call came from. He sharpened his ears, and bolted away tracking down the sound.

"Leon!!! Where are you going?" John shouted to get his friend's attention, but to no avail.

Leon weaved through the sea of people, until he finally saw a wooden stall with an old woman manning it.

"What brings you here dear?" The old woman asked.

"I don't know, I hear a call and it keeps beckoning me if I don't look for it." He answered.

"Then how about getting your fortune read dear?" she offered.

"Well, since I'm already here, why not?"

"Here I go then." said the old woman. "I see a covered veil in your heart, you have a past you do not wish to talk. I see that you will soon leave this world, taking the future with you."

"I went through that sea of people, just to be told this??!??!?" He bellowed before storming off. "What sea of people?" A voice asked.

"Where are they?"

"Who are 'they'?"

"The people of course."

"They are not here, there's no one here"